Photographic sink



2 Sheets-Sheet l April l0, 1956 G. MORRISON PHOTOGRAPHIC SINK Filed Aug. 16, 1954 April 10, 1956 G. 1 MORRISON 2,741,171

PHOTOGRAPHIC sINx Filed Aug. 16, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 l J4 Z9 Pif-ron n MU v uit George L Morrison, Ever en, 22.1.

Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. l

Claims. (Cl. @5 3?) The present invention relates gener lly to photographic sinks and more particularly to photographic sinks which are used for developing, rixing, and washing films, papers, and plates.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a photographic sink which is so arranged and constructed that the liquid contained therein is constantly agitated and replenished or renewed; to provide a photographic sink which is able to maintain the liquid therein at a constant predetermined temperature; to provide a photographic sink which is so arranged and constructed so as to eliminate hypo and other contaminants very quickly after they are introduced into the sink; to provide a photographic sink with a plurality of water inlets arranged so as to cause the liquid within the end portions of the sink to rotate in spiral paths to thereby maintain the liquid in the sink in a continuously agitated state and to permit LL L f me stal. n

effective heat transfer between the lic u partially imthe liquid in photographic trays which are mersed into the liquid within the end portions of the sink; to provide a photographic sink having improved means for maintaining photographic films, papers, and plates in a washing area which is continuously supplied with clean, fresh water; and to provide a photographic sink of the type described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and highly efficient in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a photographic sink made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the right-hand portion of the photographic sink illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line of Figure .3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional View line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tray which may be inserted into the central washing portion of the sink shown in Figure 1 in place of the fence illustrated therein; and

Figure 7 is a partial sectional View of a modied form of photographic sink equipped with a tray such as is i1- lustrated in Figure 6, this sectional view being taken along a iine through the modilied sink similar to the line 7 7 of Figure l.

A photographic sink in accordance with the present invention includes a shallow, eiongated basin for containing a liquid; a water supply system for directing a pair of horizontally spaced-apart jets of water into the basin from points adjacent one of the outer, longitudinally, upwardly extending walls of the basin and in a direction approximately transversely of the basin, the points of origin of the jets being symmetrically located with respect to the transverse center line of the basin; a pair of drain openings located in the bottom and along the longitudinal centaken along the ter line of the basin, one drain opening being longitudinally located intermediate one of the longitudinal ends of the basin and the point of origin oli' the adjacent jet, and the other drain being longitudinally located at a point intermediate the opposite longitudinal end of the basin and the point of origin of the adjacent jet; conduits con? nected with the drain openings for removing liquid from the basin; and a liquid level control connected with the conduits for regulating the amount of water withdrawn from the basin so as to maintain the height of liquid with-` in the basin at a constant level. The photographic sink may also include a suitable retaining means for keeping photographic lms, papers, and plates Within the central area of the basin; but which will not materially imp-ese the circulation or movement of the liquid within the basin.

The spaced-apart jets of water which are directed transversely of the basin on either side of the transverse center line thereof cause the liquid Within the basin to move in well-defined dow paths. The action of the jets in combination with the position of the drain openings cause the liquid at each end of the basin to circulate in a gentle swirling, spiral path with the vortex of the spiral located at the drain opening and the liquid within the center of the basin between the two jets to move in a turbulent, generally circular path with contant drainage into they outer spirally moving liquid.

The photographic sink l illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 of the drawings includes a relatively shallow, elongated, larly shaped basin Il formed ol non-corrosive mate al such as stainless steel, galvanized iron, or the` like which is maintained in a conveniently elevated position from the floor by legs 3 which are welded or otherwise attached to the bottom of the basin 2 at the corners thereof. The basin 2 includes a bottom d, oppositely disposed tront and rear walls 5 and 6 respectively and oppositely disposed end walls 7 and 8. The bottom wall 4 includes a pair of symmetrically positioned, horizontally spaced apart drain openings 9 and lll locatedalong the longitudinal center line of the bottom wall 4. The spacing of the drain openings 9 and lll are determined in a manner which will be hereinafter explained.

Hot and cold water are delivered from a suitable source (not shown) through conduits ll and 12 respectively to a conventional commercial mixing valve i3 which is capable or" mixing suitable proportions of the hot and cold water so as to deliver a predetermined amount of tempered water at a temperature which is within a fraction of a degree of that desired. The mixing valve 13 is located above and toward the rear of the basin 2. Thernixing valve 13 connects with an inlet conduit lil which extends downwardly into the basin at approximately the center of the rear Wall 6 thereof. The lower end of the conduit 14 connects with horizontally branched con duits 15 and lo which extend in opposite directions for a short distance toward the end walls 7 and t! respectively of the basin. The ends of the conduits l5' and 16 are provided with inlet oriiices li and i3 respectively which face the iront wall 5i of the basin 2. The inlet orifices l? and 11S are suitably dimensioned so that a jet is created from each oriiice when only a small amount of water passes therethrough. The orifices i7 and 18 are spaced apart a sulcient distance to cause the liquid within the ends of the basin 2 to assume a gentle swirling spiral motion and the liquid in the center of the basin 2 within an area which is sufficient for washing photographic films, papers, and plates to assume a gentle turbulent generally circular motion when the photographic sink l is in operation. This requirement is generally satisfied when the orifices 17 and 1.8 are spaced apart a distance between about one-fourth and about one-third the longitudinal length of the basin 2 and located at a height intermediate the liquid level maintained within the basin 2.

amidst The drain openings 9 and itl in the bottom i of the basin 2 are longitudinally located approximately centrally between the orifices i7 and i8 and the adjacent end walls 7 and S respectively. The drain openings 9 and y10 connect through suitable conduits 19 and 20 respectively to a longitudinally extending, generally horizontal conduit 2l which extends longitudinally beneath the basin 2.

ln order to maintain the liquid level in the basin 2 at a predetermined level, the conduit 2l connects with the lower end of a standpipe 22 which forms part of a liquid level control unit 23. The standpipe 22 is open at the top and terminates at approximately the height of the basin 2. An outlet conduit 24 of smaller diameter than the standpipe 22 connects at its upper end to the bottom end of the standpipe 22. A removable overflow pipe 25 of smaller diameter than the standpipe 22 extends vertically within the standpipe 22. The overilow pipe 25 has a tapered lower end 26 which is proportioned so asvto seat within a reverse taper in the upper end 27 of the outlet conduit 24. When the tapered end 26 of the overilow pipe 25 is seated within the upper tapered end 27 of the conduit 2d, it is supported in a verticalY position within the center of the standpipe 23. The overflow pipe 25 is of appropriate height so that its upper end is at the liquid levelV desired within the basin 2. In operation, the liquid from the basin 2 will flow through the drain openings 9 and lltl and conduits 19, 2t) and 2li to the standpipe 22 which will lill up to the level of the inner overflow pipe 25 after which the liquid will drain outwardly through the overiiow pipe 25 and outlet con duit 24. The overliow pipe 25 and outlet conduit 2li Should be of suiiicient size so as to permit the discharge of an equal amount of liquid as that emitted through the inlet orifices 17 and i3 into the basin 2. The outlet conduit 24 may include the usual U-shaped trap 2S for collecting heavy foreign particles which might otherwise clog up the outlet conduit 2d at a point which is relatively inaccessible. The overflow pipe 25 is removable so that the basin 2 can be drained and wiped clean at the end of each days work.

The movement of the liquid within the basin 2 when the photographic sink l is in operation is indicated in Figures l and 4. The liquid in the right-hand end of the basin 2, as viewed in Figures l and 4, forms a gentle swirling counter-clockwise collapsing spiral terminating at the drain opening lil, whereas the liquid at the lefthand end of the basin 2 assumes a gentle swirling clockwise collapsing spiral terminating at the, drain opening 9. The liquid within the center of the basin moves in a gentle, turbulent generally circular manner with constant i passage of liquid into the spiral streams in the ends of the basin 2.

Although the bottom 4 of the basin 2 illustrated in Figures l through 5 is llat, it may be formed with a slight pitch toward the drain openings 9 and l@ to permit all of the liquid from the basin 2 to be drained automatically when the overilow pipe 25 is removed.

Normally, the end portions of the basin 2 are used for maintaining the temperature of photographic trays 29 placed therein at a uniform temperature. In order to obtain proper heat transfer between the liquid in the basin 2 `and `the liquid in the trays 29, the liquid in the basin 2 should ow over the entire bottom area of the trays 29 without interfering with the gentle swirling movement of the water within the ends of the basin 2. This condition is attained when the trays 29 are maintained in an elevated position such that they are immersed within the liquid in the basin 2 to a depth of approximately .50 inch. The trays 29 are provided with suitable legs 30 for maintaining the trays in an elevated position. The legs 30 may either be integral with the bottom of the trays 29 or formed separately therefrom. The trays 29 illustrated in thel drawings have legs 30 which include rubber suction cups 3l and hard rubber rods 32 which seat within central cylindrical recesses in the suction cups 31. The suction cups 3l iirmly engage the bottom of the trays 29 at the corners thereof. Normally, the weight of the liquids within the trays 29 are sutlicient to keep the trays 29 rmly in place within the basin 2 despite the gentle swirling action of the liquid beneath the trays 29.

The central portion of the basin 2 is normally used as a washing area for photographic ilms, papers, and plates. in order to confine such photographic material to this central area, a suitable barrier such as the fences 33 are formed within the basin on either side of the orifice openings i7 and ilti. The fences 33 may be formed in any convenient fashion, for example, by uniformly spacing a plurality of vertically extending posts 3d transversely of the basin 2 at each of the desired longitudinal locatio-ns. The fences 33 are symmetricaily located with respect to the transverse center line of the basin 2 and outwardly of the orice openings i7 and as illustrated in the drawings. Each of the posts 3d includes a rubber suction cup 35 and a hard rubber rod 36 which seats within a central cylindrical recess in the upper end of the suction cup 35. The posts 3ft have a sufhcient height so that they project above the liquid level in the basin 2 when the suction cups 35 are pressed into engagement at the bottom of the basin 2. The posts E4 which form each fence 33 are spaced sutticiently close together so as to prevent passage of 'photographic materials from the central washing area of the basin 2 into the ends of the basin while at the same time being sufciently far apart so as to permit the free passage of liquid through the various sections of the basin 2.

Other types of barriers may be used instead of the fences 33 for retaining photographic material within the center portion ot thebasin, for example, the tray 37 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The tray 57 may be formed of any suitable non-corrosive material such as stainless steel, plastic, or the like and includes a rectangular bottom wall 38 which is dimensioned so as to iit within and dene the washing area of the basin 2 and upstanding side walls 39 which have a height slightly greater than the liquid level in the basin 2. The side walls 39 of the tray 37 are provided with spaced, rectangular openings dit which are suitably dimensioned so that when the tray 37 is positioned within the basin 2, the side walls will prevent the passage of the photographic material being washed from passing into the ends of the basin 2 and at the same time, will'permit the free tiow of liquid between the various sections of the basin 2.

In one photographic sink made in accordance with the present invention, the basin was inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 4,50 inches in height. The orifices were arranged along the back wall of the basin at a height approximately one inch from the bottom of the basin and spaced apart a distance approximately 20 inches. Each of the orifices had a diameter of .04 inch which created adequate jets and permitted adequate circulation within the basin when the water passed through each orifice at aV rate of one quart per minute. The overflow pipe was at a height such that the water level within the basin was maintained at a height ot approximately 3 inches. The drains were located along the longitudinal center line of the basin at points spaced 13.75 inches inwardly from the ends of the basin. When this sink was in operation, the liquid within the ends of the basiny had a gentle swirling spiral motion with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid within the center of the basin had a gentle turbulent circular motion with constant drainage into the spirals at the ends of the basin. Contaminants in the center of the basin were quickly passed by the moving liquid into the ends of the basin and emitted through the drain openings. The chemical solution Vin the trays disposed in the ends of the basin were maintained to within a fraction of a degree of the temperature of the liquid within the basin. The center portion of the basin formed a desirable washing area since fresh water from the orifice passed continuously over the photographic material being washed and the contaminated water formed by a passage of hypo from the photographic material being washed into the water was constantly and rapidly disposed of by the passage thereof into the spirals in the ends of the basin. The contaminated water in the outer spirals quickly passed out of the basin through the drain openings and consequently was not able to contaminate the water in the center of the basin.

It should be understood that the construction of the photographic sink described above may vary widely without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the basin may be altered so as to have curved end walls, be of oval shape or have rounded corners, one could provide other means for maintaining the liquid level Within the basin at a constant height, etc.

Various of the features of the invention believed to be new are set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A photographic sink comprising a shallow, elongated basin for containing a liquid, a pair of horizontally spaced-apart inlet orifices connected to a source of water through suitable conduit means, each of said inlet orifices being dimensioned so as to create a jet at a desired water flow rate, said spaced orifices being located within said basin adjacent to and intermediate the ends of a longitudinally extending wall thereof, each of said orifices being at a height and facing in a direction such that when water passes therethrough at the desired flow rate jets of water will be directed in a direction approximately transversely of said basin and at a height intermediate the normal liquid level maintained within said basin, said basin having a bottom wall which is provided with a pair of drain openings extending therethrough, a drain opening being located along the longitudinal center iine of the bottom wall at a point intermediate each end of said basin and the adjacent inlet orice, the spacing of said inlet orifices being such that when jets of water are directed therefrom during operation of said sink the jets will force the liquid in the ends of the basin into gentle swirling spiral paths with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid in the center of the basin into a generally turbulent circular path with constant flow into the outer spirally moving liquid, transverse open barriers separating the basin into a central and two end sections, said central section being adapted for retaining photographic material such as films, papers, and plates to be washed, conduits connected with said drain openings for receiving liquid from said basin and a liquid level control unit connected within said conduits for regulating the amount of liquid Withdrawn from said basin so as to maintain the height of the liquid within said basin at a constant level.

2. A photographic sink comprising a shallow, elongated basin for containing a liquid, a pair of horizontally spacedapart inlet orifices connected to a source of water through suitable conduit means, each of said inlet orifices being dimensioned so as to create a jet at a desired water flow rate, said spaced orifices being located within said basin adjacent to and intermediate the ends of a longitudinally extending wall thereof, each of said orifices being at a height and facing in a direction such that when water passes therethrough at the desired fiow rate jets of water will be directed in a direction approximately transversely of said basin and at a height intermediate the normal liquid level maintained within said basin, said inlet orilices being spaced apart a distance between about one-fourth and about one-third the longitudinal length of said basin, said basin having a bottom wall which is provided with a pair of drain openings extending therethrough, a drain opening being located along the longitudinal center line of the bottom wall at a point intermediate each end of said basin and the adjacent inlet orilice, the spacing of said inlet orifices being such that when jets of water are directed therefrom during operation of said sink the jets will force the liquid in the ends of the basin into gentle swirling spiral paths with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid in the center of the basin into a generally turbulent circular path with constant iiow into the outer spirally moving liquid, transverse open barriers separating the basin into a central and two end sections, said central section being adapted for retaining photographic material such as films, papers, and plates to be washed, conduits connected with said drain openings for receiving liquid from said basin and a liquid level control unit connected within said conduits for regulating the amount of liquid Withdrawn from said basin so as to maintain the height of the liquid within said basin at a constant level.

3. A photographic sink comprising a shallow, elongated basin for containing a liquid, a pair of horizontally spacedapart inlet orifices connected to a source of water through suitable conduit means, each of said inlet orifices being dimensioned so as to create a jet at a desired water fiow rate, said spaced orifices being located within said basin adjacent to and intermediate the ends of a longitudinally extending wall thereof, each of said orifices being at a height and facing in a direction such that when water passes therethrough at the desired fiow rate jets of water will be directed in a direction approximately transversely of said basin and at a height intermediate the normal liquid level maintained within said basin, said spaced orifices being symmetrically located with respect to the transverse center line of said basin, said basin having a bottom wall which is provided with a pair of drain openings extending therethrough, a drain opening being located along the longitudinal center line of the bottom wall at a point intermediate each end of said basin and the adjacent inlet orice, the spacing of said inlet orifices being such that when jets of water are directed therefrom during operation of said sink the jets will force the liquid in the ends of the basin into gentle swirling spiral paths with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid in the center of the basin into a generally turbulent circular path with constant iiow into the outer spirally moving liquid, transverse open barriers separating the basin into a central and two end sections, said central section being adapted for retaining photographic material such as films, papers, and

v, plates to be washed, conduits connected with said drain openings for receiving liquid from said basin and a liquid level control unit connected within said conduits for regulating the amount of liquid withdrawn from said basin so as to maintain the height of the liquid within said basin at a constant level.

4. A photographic sink comprising a generally rectangular, shallow, elongated basin for containing a liquid, a pair of horizontally spaced-apart inlet orifices connected to a source of water through suitable conduit means, each of said inlet orices being dimensioned so as to create a jet at a desired water liow rate, said spaced orifices being located within said basin adjacent to and intermediate the ends of a longitudinally extending wall thereof, each of said orifices being at a height and facing in a direction such that when water passes therethrough at the desired iiow rate jets of water will be directed in a direction approximateiy transversely of. said basi and at a height intermediate the normai liquid level maintained within said basin, said spaced orifices being symmetricaily located with respect to transverse center line of said basin and the spaced apart a distance between about one-fourth and about one-third the longitudinal iength said basin, said basin having a bottom wall which is provided with a pair of drain openings extending therethrough, a drain opening being iocated along the longitudinal center line of the bottom wal! at a point intermediate each end of said basin and the adjacent iniet orifice, the spacing of said inlet orifices being such that when jets of water are directed therefrom during operation of said sink the jets will force the liquid in the ends of the basin into gentle swirling attarder spiral paths with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid in the center of the basin into a generally turbulent circular path with constant flow into the outer spirally moving liquid, transverse open barriers separating the basin into a centraland two end sections, said central section being adapted for retaining photographic material such as lilms, papers, and plates to be Washed, conduits connected with said drain openings for receiving liquid from said basin and a liquid level control unit connected within said conduits for regulating the amount of liquid withdrawn from said basin so as to maintain the height ot the liquid within said basin at a constant level.

5. A photographic sink comprising a generally rectangular, shallow, elongated basin for containing a liquid, a pair of horizontaiiy spaced-apart inlet orifices connected to a source of water through suitable conduit means, each oi said inlet oriiices being dimcnsioned so as to create a jet at a desired water flow rate, said spaced orifices being located within said basin adjacent to and intermediate the ends of a longitudinally extending wall thereof, each of said orifices being at a height and facing in a direction such that when water passes therethrough at the desired tlow rate jets of water will be directed in a direction approXimately transversely of said basin and at a height intermediate the normal liquid level maintained Within said basin, said spaced orifices being symmetrically located with respect to the transverse center line of said basin and spaced apart a distance between about one-fourth and about one-third the longitudinal length of said basin, said basin having a bottom wall which is provided with a pair of drain openings extending therethrough, a drain opening being located along the longitudinal center line of the bottom Wall at a point intermediate each end of said basin and the adjacent inlet orifice, the spacing of said inlet orifices being such that when jets of water are directedA therefrom during operation of said sink the jets will force the liquid in the ends of the basin into gentle swirling spiral paths with vortices at the drain openings and the liquid in the center of the basin into a generally turbulent circular path with constant flow into the outer spirally moving liquid, transverse barriers separating the basin into a central and two end sections, said barriers extending above the normal liquid level in said basin and having` spaced openings therethrough which are dimensioned so as to permit the free tlow of liquid between said basin sections, said central section being adapted for retaining photographic material such as hns, papers, and plates to be washed, conduits connected with said drain openings for receiving liquid from said basin and a liquid level control unit connected within said conduits for regulating the amount of liquid withdrawn from said basin so as to maintain the height of the liquid within said basin at a constant level.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

